Queen of Always by Sherry D. Ficklin is the last book in the Stolen Empire series and perhaps the darkest. Catherine needs to be ruthless if she is to survive life in the Imperial Court. Ficklin delivered in sharing the last chapters of Catherine’s story and it held me spellbound.
A Curious Beginning is the first novel in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series by Deanna Raybourn. The tale takes place in Victorian England and introduces us to the feisty character Veronica Speedwell. Action, mystery, strong characters and excellent writing made A Curious Beginning a wonderful adventure.
Queen of Tomorrow is the second book in the Stolen Empire by Sherry D. Ficklin and it rocked its predecessor as Ficklin began Catherine’s transformation. With it the tone of this trilogy darkens and in a word is was brilliant. Set in Russia and loosely based on a young Catharine the Great I found myself swept up as Catherine navigated the Imperial Court.
The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith is a follow up to his wildly successful Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter novel. I chose to listen as soon as I saw MacLeod Andrews was narrating. This was a riveting alternate travel through history and my travels with Henry Sturges were absolutely delightful.
I am always drawn to tales set during World War II and could not help picking up The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Alphabet House is a psychological thriller about two British pilots who find themselves behind enemy lines. Their journey to survive finds them being admitted as patients in the Alphabet House, an asylum for Nazi officers. Adler-Olsen takes us on their harrowing journey during the war and after.
Gads, I just love the dynamic duo of Braun and Books in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Dawn’s Early Light has them traveling to the Americas, in danger and advancing their partnership. James Langton is such an unbelievable pleasure to listen to and I just slip into the world. Steampunk, a suspenseful case, and deliciously good banter had me smiling.
